Method of precision calibration of magnification of a scanning microscope with the use of test diffraction grating

ABSTRACT

A method of precision calibration of magnification of a scanning microscopes with the use of a test diffraction grating has the steps of positioning and orientation of a test object on a stage of microscope so that strips of a test diffraction grating are perpendicular to a direction along which a calibration is performed, scanning a selected portion of the test object along axes X and Y, measuring values of a signal S versus coordinates x and y in a plane of scanning and storing the values S (x, y) in a digital form as a two-dimensional digital array, transforming the two-dimensional array of signals S (x, y) into a two-dimensional array S(u,v) by turning of the axes so that a direction of a new axis U is perpendicular to the strips of grating and a direction of a new axis V coincides with the strips of the grating, line-by-line mathematical processing of the array S(u, v) in a new manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of precision calibration of magnification of a scanning microscopes with the use of test diffraction grating.

[0002] Methods of precision calibration of a magnification of scanning microscopes with the use of test diffraction gratings are known. In the existing methods a test object is positioned and oriented on a microscope stage, and a corresponding part of the test objects is scanned, with subsequent processing of the thusly obtained data. It is believed that the existing methods can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide method of precision calibration of magnification of a scanning microscopes with the use of test diffraction grating.

[0004] In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated, in a method of precision calibration of magnification a scanning microscope with the use of a test diffraction grating, having the steps of positioning and orientation of a test object on a stage of microscope so that strips of a test diffraction grating are perpendicular to a direction along which a calibration is performed; scanning a selected portion of the test object along axes X and Y; measuring values of a signal S versus coordinates X and Y in a plane of scanning and storing said values S (x,y) in a digital form as a two-dimensional digital array; transforming the two-dimensional array of signals S(x, y) into a two-dimensional array S (u,v) by turning of the axes so that a direction of a new axis U is perpendicular to the strips of grating and a direction of a new axis V coincides with the strips of the grating; line-by-line mathematical processing of the array S(u,v), including separation from it of a one-dimensional array-line S(u) which contains a profile of periodically repeating strips of a test-object; transformation of the array S(u) into an array P(w) in accordance with the formula ${P(w)} = {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{N - w}\quad \left\{ \left\lbrack {{S(j)} - {S\left( {j + w} \right)}} \right\rbrack^{2} \right\}}$

[0005] where N is a number of members in the array S(u), determination of coordinates of w₁, w₂, w₃, w₄ . . . of successive minimums of the function P(w), wherein w₄>w₃>w₂>w₁>0, and a determination of an average pitch T′ of the test grating in pixels for selected line S(u) in accordance with the formula ${T^{\prime} = {\frac{1}{n - 1}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n - 1}\quad \left( {w_{i + 1} - w_{i}} \right)}}},$

[0006] where n is a number of minima in the function P(w); moving to a next line S(u) with a new value of a coordinate V and performing the same steps of the line-by-line mathematical processing for the next line; performing a standard statistic processing of obtained set of values T′ corresponding to various lines v with a calculation of an average for all lines value of the pitch T_(av) and calculating a magnification M_(u) in selected direction u in accordance with the formula $M_{u} = \frac{T_{av} \cdot L}{T_{o} \cdot N}$

[0007] wherein L is a width of an image medium in direction of calibration, T₀ is a value of pitch of the test object attested by an independent method, and N is a number of pixels in a line along the direction u.

[0008] When the method is performed in accordance with the present invention, the calibration of magnification of the scanning microscopes is further improved.

[0009] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a view showing an image of a test object with directions of scanning and a direction in which the magnification of a microscope is to be determined;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an initial coordinate system and a new coordinate system; and

[0012]FIG. 3 is a view showing a function of a modified self convolution P(w) for a periodical structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] In accordance with the present invention a method for precision calibration of a magnification of a scanning microscope is performed with a test diffraction grating. FIG. 1 shows a field of view 1 of a scanning microscope with a plurality of pixels 2 of a signal of scanning with an image of a diffraction grating. The directions of scanning are identified with X and Y and the scanning is performed in accordance with these two perpendicular axes. A magnification calibration of the scanning electron microscope is performed in direction u. As can be seen from this drawing, the test object is positioned and oriented on the microscope stage so that the strips of the test diffraction grating are perpendicular to the direction u of calibration.

[0014] A portion of the test object which is shown in FIG. 1 is then scanned, and a plurality of values of the signal S in dependence on the coordinates in a plane of scanning are obtained. These values are identified as S(x, y) and they are stored in a digital form as a two-dimensional digital array, for example in a memory of a computer. The thusly obtained two-dimensional array of signal S(x, y) is transformed into a two-dimensional array S(u, v) by turning of the axes, so that a direction of a new axis U is perpendicular to the strips of the grating, and a direction of a new axis V corresponds to the direction of the strips of the grating, as shown in FIG. 2. Thereby a new array of the signal is obtained.

[0015] After this a mathematical processing of new array S(u,v) performed for each line of the new array.

[0016] The mathematical processing includes: separation from it of a one-dimensional array-line S(u) which contains a profile of an image of periodically repeating strips of a test-object, transformation of the array S(u) into an array P(w) in accordance with the formula ${P(w)} = {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{N - w}\quad \left\{ \left\lbrack {{S(j)} - {S\left( {j + w} \right)}} \right\rbrack^{2} \right\}}$

[0017] where N is a number of members in the array S(u), determination of coordinates of w₁, w₂, w₃, w₄ . . . of successive minimums of the function P(w), wherein w₄>w₃>w₂>w₁>0, and a determination of an average pitch T′ of the test grating in pixels for a selected line S(u) in accordance with the formula: ${T^{\prime} = {\frac{1}{n - 1}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n - 1}\quad \left( {w_{i + 1} - w_{i}} \right)}}},$

[0018] where n is a number of minima in the function P(w).

[0019] Then the same processing is performed for each line, starting from a next line S(u) with a new value of a coordinate v with the same steps of the line-by-line mathematical processing.

[0020] After this, standard statistic processing of the obtained set of values T′ is performed, corresponding to various lines v, with calculation of an average value of the pitch T_(av), for all lines. A calculation of magnification M_(u) for a selected direction u is performed in accordance with the formula: $M_{u} = \frac{T_{av} \cdot L}{T_{o} \cdot N}$

[0021] wherein L is a width of an image medium in direction of calibration, T₀ is a value of pitch of the test object attested by an independent method, and N is a number of pixels in a line along the direction u.

[0022] Before the line-by-line mathematical processing, in accordance with the present invention the operations of noise suppression, averaging and smoothing, etc. are performed.

[0023] In accordance with the present invention the calculated function P(w) in the vicinity of each minimum is approximated by a suitable analytical curve, and on the analytical curve an extremum is localized, whose abscissa is accepted as the coordinate w_(i).

[0024] Also, a “cutoff” of each minimum of the function P(w) in accordance with a given level, with formation of an “island” is performed, the postion of a centroid for the “island” formed by the “cutoff” is calculated, and the coordinate w_(i) is fixed as the abscissa of the centroid.

[0025] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0026] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in method of precision calibration of magnification of a scanning microscopes with the use of test diffraction grating, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0027] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
 1. A method of precision calibration of magnification of a scanning microscopes with the use of a test diffraction grating, comprising the steps of positioning and orientation of a test object on a stage of microscope so that strips of a test diffraction grating are perpendicular to a direction along which a calibration is performed; scanning a selected portion of the test object along axes X and Y; measuring values of a signal S versus coordinates x and y in a plane of scanning and storing said values S (x,y) in a digital form as a two-dimensional digital array; transforming the two-dimensional array of signals S(x, y) into a two-dimensional array S (u,v) by turning of the axes so that a direction of a new axis U is perpendicular to the strips of grating and a direction of a new axis V coincides with the strips of the grating; line-by-line mathematical processing of the array S(u,v), including separation from it of a one-dimensional array-line S(u) which contains a profile of periodically repeating strips of a test-object; transformation of the array S(u) into an array P(w) in accordance with the formula ${P(w)} = {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{N - w}\quad \left\{ \left\lbrack {{S(j)} - {S\left( {j + w} \right)}} \right\rbrack^{2} \right\}}$

where N is a number of members in the array S(u), determination of coordinates of w₁, w₂, w₃, w₄ . . . of successive minimums of the function P(w), wherein w₄>w₃>w₂>w₁>0, and a determination of an average pitch T′ of the test grating in pixels for selected line S(u) in accordance with the formula ${T^{\prime} = {\frac{1}{n - 1}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n - 1}\quad \left( {w_{i + 1} - w_{i}} \right)}}},$

where n is a number of minima in the function P(w); moving to a next line S(u) with a new value of a coordinate V and performing the same steps of the line-by-line mathematical processing for the next line; performing a standard statistic processing of obtained set of values T′ corresponding to various lines v with a calculation of an average for all lines value of the pitch T_(av) and calculating a magnification M_(u) in selected direction u in accordance with the formula $M_{u} = \frac{T_{av} \cdot L}{T_{o} \cdot N}$

wherein L is a width of an image medium in direction of calibration, T₀ is a value of pitch of the test object attested by an independent method, and N is a number of pixels in a line along the direction u.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising, before the line-by-line mathematical processing, performing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of a noise suppression, an averaging and a smoothing.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising the steps in accordance with which a “cutoff” of each maximum of the function P(w) in accordance with a given level, with formation of an “island” is performed, the position of a centroid for the “island” formed by the “cutoff” is calculated, and the coordinate w_(i) is fixed as the abscissa of the centroid.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising, before the line-by-line mathematical processing, performing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of a noise suppression, an averaging and a smoothing. 